Provence Road Trip: Avignon to the Verdon Gorge (4 Days)

Provence in one drive: from the papal city of Avignon through the perched villages of the Luberon and the lavender plateau to the turquoise water of the Gorges du Verdon, Europe’s grand canyon. Best from late June to mid-July when the lavender is in bloom.

Day 1 — Avignon and the Luberon (60 km)

Start at Avignon’s Palais des Papes, then into the Luberon for the hilltop villages of Gordes and the ochre cliffs of Roussillon.

Day 2 — Lavender at Valensole (75 km)

Across the Valensole plateau — the postcard lavender fields — toward the western end of the Verdon. Sleep in Valensole.

Day 3 — Gorges du Verdon (55 km)

The rim road of the Gorges du Verdon, with viewpoints high above the river, ending at the cliffside village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.

Day 4 — Lake Sainte-Croix

The turquoise Lac de Sainte-Croix at the mouth of the gorge — rent a pedalo or kayak into the canyon, then head home.

Tolls and costs

France has distance-based autoroute tolls, but the Provence back roads are toll-free and far prettier. Villages fill up midday in summer — arrive early. Use the cost calculator for your dates, and rent the car in Avignon.

This trip is also in the free Roadcut trip planner: change the number of days and where you sleep each night, pick your vehicle to see the fuel cost, check the weather on the road, and open each day in Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze.